Such Lovely Bridal Shower Favors

I've been playing with buttons on and off in the past year, not knowing what I could make with the pretty stacks I sorted out. Then I discovered my jewelry making supplies - and pulled out some wire and pliers. Mix jewelry making with hair accessory making and get these stacked button bobby pins! The possibilities are endless and they can be used for a funky hair updo, or as bridal or baby shower gifts for the attendants.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45678072/stacked-buttons-bobby-pins-coral-reef

Under the Sea and Little Mermaid Themed Birthday Party Favors

Aqua blue and coral pinks. I've had this color combination in mind for weeks! Today I finally had the time and made it. This is a hair bow birthday party favor for girls. It can be used for Little Mermaid or for Under The Sea themed birthday parties. Like all the other favors, it can be personalized. I hope you like it!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/45554880/princess-ariel-hair-bow-birthday-party

Embroidered Children Portraits

This is the sweetest thing I have seen this year: embroidered children's portaits. I am amazed at her talent and how beautiful these portraits are.

Children grow up too fast. Visit bobetsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/bobetsy and order a keepsake embroidered portrait of your own baby!

Will You Be My Valentine? - Handmade Valentine's Day Favors

They must be small, they must be cute, sweet, lovely, adorable, they must bring a smile on anyone's face, and they must be affordable. This is my version of the Valentine's Day favors, enjoyed especially by school age children: a pink handmade hair clip or bow on a hand stamped Happy Valentine's Day card.

Be mine!

http://www.PrettyHairClippies.Etsy.com

Good Marketing, Bad Taste

The beauty isle at the grocery store: John Frieda new line of hair care. The price was just a little spicy but I already liked John Frieda and the packaging was so pretty. Plus I had a coupon - which means "good deal" in my eyes.

The shampoo dried and tangled my hair like no other shampoo has before and did not smell (or feel) like it contained any eucaliptus as the package boasted.

The conditioner, while it smelled good, leaved my hair tangled and unmanageable.

This is where the good marketing came in: this particular hair care line includes a detangling spray. This product is supposed to finish the job and actually make your hair manageable. Usually I spend about $2 on a great conditioner that does the job well. This time, though, I actually walked into the store, used another coupon and paid a whole bunch more money for the detangling spray.

Should I say I am not impressed with the results? Should I mention the whole bunch of money I parted with? The marketing methods that lured me into buying 3 products I really did not need? Or maybe the bad feeling this experience left me with.

No matter how good the marketing is, the product should always satisfy the customer, as this is the only way they become a repeat customer. I think this is more important than immediate sales.

Handmade Birthday Party Favors With Sculpted Ladybug Hair Bow for Children

This handmade birthday party favor for girls is my latest pride and joy. I can't believe how cute the ladybug hair clip turned out and how well it goes with the red thank you card. I guess you could say I am a coordination freak, but I simply love putting these favors together.

Take advantage of the quantity discount and get them while they're hot!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32191379

Vacation, vacation, what did vacation teach me?

Even though I didn't really go anywhere away from my house, this summer I slowed things down with Etsy and took more care of myself and my family. This is the only luxury Etsy offers, and I decided to take advantage of it. I am now back with recharged batteries and a new understanding of how business goes when you're not working.

I dind't post in the forums or on Twitter regularly. I didn't renew regularly, nor developed new items. I didn't make new listings, nor did I work endless hours on my photos. As a result, I did not make any sales, did not get any hearts, did not receive any convos. It was like Pretty Hair Clippies fell off the face of the planet. All the work I have put into marketing my products, all the energy I put into promoting Pretty Hair Clippies, all the business cards and coupons I handed out, all the new customers and friends I have made - they were forever gone the moment I decided to go on vacation.

I think I am recharged now, and ready to start working on Pretty Hair Clippies again. I have loads of ideas and a strong desire to make everything that my imagination comes up with. If you check out my shop you will see many new items that I posted recently and a totally new style for my photos. I just wish marketing had an impact in the long term, as well as the moment, and I dind't have to start everything from zero.